Detachable automobile-tire tread.



1 Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

H. M. PITMAN.

DETAGHABLE AUTOMOBILE TIRE TREAD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909.

llarl yll Pi the an UNITED sTAr s P rENJ HARRY M. PITMAN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, HSSIGNOR or rwo-rnnms TO IRA vAUeitAN, or OAKLAND, oamronnm.

DETACHABLE AUTOMOBILE-TIRE TREAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept-6, 19ft}.

\pplication filed August 31, 1909. Serial No. 515,382.

This 'f'vention relates to inflatable tires,

aiid tii'e principal object of the same is to provlde an armorwhlch may be readily placed upon the tread surface of the tire to prevent puncturing the same and also to prevent skidding or slipping.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above, it will be on dcrstood, of course, that the essential fea tures thereof are necessarily susceptible of changes indetails and structural arrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a wheel, the tire thereof being equipped with the improved protector. Fi 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line ;vm, Fig. 2. Fig. 4.- is a similar view taken on the line I/-- 7/, Fig. 2.

Referring to the :ua-ompanying drawings by numerals, l designates the wheel rim and 2 the usual inflatable tire therefor. Said tire has opposite longitudinal side portions of its tread surface provided with openings 3.

The im roved tire' rotector is preferably formed 0 rubber and is longitudinally corrugated, the central ridges 4 of the corrugations being the larger ones and the side ridges 5 tapering therefrom. which arrangement. gives the greatest thickness to the protector at. its central portion. Each corrugation has a longitudinal opening (5 formed through it, said openings being preferably adjacent the inner portion of said corrugations. A wire 7 is passed through the open ings of the two outer corrugations, said wires holding the protector in the proper shape to fit a. tire. The ridge adjacent each outer ridge is provided, on its inner face, with lugs 8 which enter the openings 3 of the tread surface and serve to prevent the protector slipping relatively to the tire.

To apply the improved protector to a tire,

the tire is deflated, and the protector placed over the tread surface thereof with the lugs 8 in engagement with the openings 3. The tire is then inflated which causes the protcctor to have a firm interlocking engagement with said tread surface. It will be obvious that the openings through the corrugations of the protector materially cushion the same, said cushioning being increased by the air spaces formed by the inner surfaces of the corrugations and the tread surface of the tire.

From the foregoing. it will be seen thatv the ridges of the improved protector will engage with the roadbed in a manner to prevent skidding or slippagtnin addition to preventing the tread'surface of the tire being injured by punctures or the like.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is?- 1. A tire protectorcomprisinga longitudinally corrugated body adapted to be detachably fitted over the tread surface of a tire. the ridges of said corrugated body tapering in relative-thickness from the center of said body. and each ridge being provided with a eushioning opening.

2. The combination with a tire, of a protector having a limgitudinallv corrugated body the ridges of which taper in thickness from the center of the body. and means for holding said protector over the tread surface of said tire.

3. The combination with a tire having openings formed in its tread surface. of a protector for said tread surface, the body of which is longitudinally corrugated. the ridges of said corrugations being of greater thickness at the center of the body and decreasing in thickness toward the sides thereof, each ridge being provided with a longitudinal cushioning opening. wires passing through the openings of the outer ridges to hold said body in shape over a tire, and logs projecting from the inner surface. of two of said ridges and engaging with the openings in the tread surface of the tire.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY M. ll'llMX N. Witnesses ELM m: P. VAUU HAN, II. C. Scnnonnnn. 

